Wildlife & Conservation


Velvet ant that is orange and black on white background

An Ant That’s Not an Ant

Velvet ants are wasps that pack a powerful sting.

Story by Katie Potter
A bird's eye view of two kayakers paddling the green Pecos River

Pecos River's Forgotten Reach Gets Some Attention

A nonprofit group and partners pursue conservation efforts in an area hit by overpumping, drought.

Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
Dusk ushers in an ethereal fog at Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area.

A Journey Along Texas' Storied Neches River

Four pieces of public land offer glimpses of the iconic East Texas river from top to bottom.

Story by Denise Viosca Gary
Eleven Texas Conservation Licence Plates supporting Texas Parks and Wildlife programs

Conservation License Plates Support Wildlife, Parks

Program marks 25 years of conservation on Texas roads.

Story by Tenley Jackson
A grackle gives an intense look

Ask a Grackle: Which Human on Staff Is the Ghost Writer?

Hey, grackles are pretty smart birds.

Story by The Grackle
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Recent in Birding

August/September 2025 issue

Candy Cain Abshier WMA Is A Site For Soar(ing) Eyes

Each fall, birders flock to Galveston Bay’s Candy Cain Abshier Wildlife Management Area.

Story by Dan Oko
July 2025 issue

Ask A Grackle: Why Are Grackles So Darn Loud?

The Grackle tells the legend of its shrill, grating voice.

Story by The Grackle
May 2025 issue

Is Texas the Birdiest State? It Depends on How You Count the Birds

Texas ruled the roost before California took the lead. Maybe the lists don't tell the whole story...

Story by Romey Swanson
May 2025 issue

South Texas Draws International Bird-Watchers in Search of Elusive Species

Bring your binocular and spotting scopes to see Texas' rare birds.

Story by Steve Hall
May 2025 issue

Bird Bingo Is Back for a Second Year

The months-long birding game runs from May to November 2025.

Story by Eva Frederick
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Recent in Critters

October 2025 issue

An Ant That’s Not an Ant

Velvet ants are wasps that pack a powerful sting.

Story by Katie Potter
October 2025 issue

Conservation License Plates Support Wildlife, Parks

Program marks 25 years of conservation on Texas roads.

Story by Tenley Jackson
Published September 10, 2025

Alligators Are Good Moms, Keeping Hatchlings Safe

At Brazos Bend, moms make sure little gators grow up till they reach the top of the food chain.

Story by Montserrat Canedo
Published September 10, 2025

Hognose Snakes Act Scary But Aren't Dangerous

Harmless eastern hognose can use a variety of tactics to scare us, including looking like a cobra.

Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Published September 9, 2025

Unraveling the Mysteries of American Eels

Scientists work to discover the little-known life cycle of eels in Texas.

Story by Melissa Gaskill
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Recent in Plants

Published July 24, 2025

Wild Harvest: Native Texas Fruits

Use Texas’ bounty of native fruits for your next pie or jelly.

Story by Dyanne Fry Cortez
June 2024 issue

This Collection of Plants Helps Scientists Understand how Texas has Changed Over Time

The plant collection resides at Big Bend Ranch State Park.

December 2018 issue

Ball Moss Lives in Trees but Doesn’t Harm Them

The flowering plant is often seen on dead branches.

Story by Eva Frederick
Published

Monahans Sandhills State Park Is Home to One of the Biggest Oak Forests in North America

Thickets of shin oak stabilize dunes at Monahans.

Story by Dyanne Fry Cortez
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Recent in Land Stewardship

October 2025 issue

Recording Rock Imagery at Hueco Tanks State Park

The first comprehensive rock art survey at Hueco Tanks has yielded unrecorded pictograph panels.

Story by Eva Frederick
Published October 2, 2025

Seminole Canyon Pictographs Reveal Clues to an Ancient Culture

Experts call the rock imagery "the oldest library in North America."

Story by Russell Roe
Published September 10, 2025

From Mortgage Banker to Wildlife Technician

How one man made a radical career change.

Story by Texas Parks and Wildlife
August/September 2025 issue

Boggy Slough Conservation Area Earns Top Award for Land Stewardship

The diverse 19,000-acre preserve lies in East Texas' Pineywoods.

Story by Lerrin Johnson
July 2025 issue

Pecos River's Forgotten Reach Gets Some Attention

A nonprofit group and partners pursue conservation efforts in an area hit by overpumping, drought.

Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
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Recent in Conservation

October 2025 issue

Cross Bar Is a Special Piece of Federal Land in the Panhandle

The recreation area is the only Bureau of Land Management site in Texas. Access is coming.

Story by Morgan O'Hanlon
Published October 2, 2025

Meet the Critters of Texas State Parks

Our public lands are where the wild things are.

Story by Susan Griswold
August/September 2025 issue

Disease Leads to a Critical Crossroads For Texas Bighorn

TPWD and partners focus on fighting a deadly disease affecting the sheep.

Story by Lydia Saldaña
July 2025 issue

Land Acquired in East, West Texas for Wildlife Management Areas

The new WMA properties lie along two of Texas' most storied rivers — the Trinity and the Rio Grande.

Story by TPWD Staff
July 2025 issue

Chaparral Wildlife Management Area Captures the Subtle Magic of South Texas Brush Land

"The Chap" is a celebrated destination for hunting, hiking, camping and bird-watching.

Story by Eva Frederick
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Recent in Science

August/September 2025 issue

Prosthesis Keeps A Big Bass Swimming

Thanks to some 'East Texas engineering,' the catch of ShareLunker 655 came with a comeback story.

Story by Marissa Ferguson
March 2025 issue

ShareLunker Program Uses Science to Create Bigger, Better Bass

Decades of genetic data help build an ever-growing big-bass family tree.

Story by Kirk McDonnell
March 2025 issue

Building a Bass Lake

TPWD team gets a rare chance to help design North Texas reservoirs with fishing in mind.

Story by Russell A. Graves
January/February 2025 issue

Largest Known Protein Discovered in Texas Lake

PKZILLA is a big, marine protein that spews toxins and plays a role in devastating algae blooms.

Story by Eva Frederick
January/February 2025 issue

A Psychologist Explains How Nature Really Does Heal Us

Time outside offers wide-ranging benefits for mental health.

Ziv Shafir
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Recent in Wildlife Management Areas

October 2025 issue

Dove Hunting Is Top-Notch at Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area

The South Texas site is best known for white-winged doves.

Story by Russell Roe
January/February 2025 issue

Blaze Your Own Trail at Black Gap Wildlife Management Area

Experience pure West Texas desert at its finest.

Story by Eva Frederick
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